Dan Biggar calls for the TMO to be consulted during the win over Japan. Unfortunately, there wasn't one

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Shaun Edwards has revealed Wales didn't know there wasn't going to be a video referee on duty for last Saturday's first Test against Japan in Osaka.

The absence of a TMO cost them as it meant the hosts were able to get away with the blatant obstuction that allowed flanker Michael Broadhurst to score the try which gave them an 11-6 interval lead.

Inexperienced Wales managed to fight back to secure a 22-18 victory, but there's continuining concern over the video ref issue with the second Test coming up in Tokyo this weekend.

Defence coach Edwards says they were surprised when they found out there was no TMO, something which only came to light during the course of the opening half at the Hanazono Stadium, which culminated in Broadhurst scoring from a peel around the front of a line-out as Wales hooker Emyr Phillips was blocked.

"We weren't aware of it before the game," he revealed.

"Dan Biggar asked the referee to go to the TMO for his penalty that was disallowed and he said 'we haven't got one'.

"Then obviously the lads asked him on the try because it was pretty clear when you watch it from the reverse angle how much our hooker was taken out, but obviously there was no TMO.

"The referee was unsighted. There was no way he could have seen it. It was impossible for him. It's no way a criticism of the referee at all, but it just shows the things we have at our disposal regularly can clear things up. Sometimes it happens too fast for the naked eye, which was clearly the case this time.

"If you look at the video, it was a clear obstruction. It was almost like an American Football block. I'm pretty sure if it had gone to the TMO, the try would have been disallowed.

"The lads were obviously pretty cheesed off about that at half time."

Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards

As for whether there will be a TMO in place for the second Test, he said: "We will have to clarify that with the ref. We do need clarification because it was a little bit surprising."

Edwards says he was impressed by the way the young Welsh players put the injustice of conceding that controversial try behind them and rallied to turn the game around.

"They gathered themselves, they didn't start thinking they were victims, they just got on with the job in the second half," he said.

"I thought it was a tremendous victory. We had a lot of lads in that team who don't play regular rugby for their regions or who hadn't played for numerous amounts of weeks. There was also the heat and the humidity to contend with.

"We were playing against a team that had played five games together recently and there is no doubt at half-time they would have been looking to kick on and get a victory.

"But we battled it out and there was a lot to be proud of. When these lads put that red shirt on they grow three inches, they put a stone on, they become inspired and that was definitely the case on Saturday.

"We had a lot more fluidity in the second half and some lads showed a lot of fitness in those conditions.

"We played a little bit differently in attack after the break and it definitely worked. I thought the try we scored from turnover ball was as good as you'll see as a team try.

"It was just fantastic attacking rugby and even the Japan supporters were rightly clapping for such a tremendous try. Liam Williams was like Sonny Bill with his pass. We call him Liam Bill!"

Edwards says the challenge now for Wales is to kick on again for this weekend's rematch at Tokyo's 27,000-capacity Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium.

"We have always seemed to improve in the second Test and as tournaments go on," he said.

"There is no guarantee that is going to happen on Saturday, but that's what we are planning.

"I've been involved with Wales for five years and it would be the first time I've gone on a six-match winning streak. I've only won five in a row before."

Blues speedster Harry Robinson scored the tourists' only try in last weekend's victory, but it was the winger's defensive work that really impressed Edwards.

"I was very, very pleased with Harry," he said.

"The position I do most coaching with is definitely the wings, because it's the most difficult position. They have to get everything right and they have the most things to remember.

"Things happen quickly and in a rush defence it's the hardest position.

"I always say to the wingers they can be the best defensive player in the game and never make one tackle, because their positional play has been absolutely brilliant throughout the whole game.

"Harry has always been an outstanding attacking player, but on Saturday he showed his defensive side was really top drawer.

"He came to us 18 months ago and I've seen a gradual improvement and I thought he was absolutely outstanding at the weekend."